We moved here expecting to be bored.
We found a city full of hidden magic instead.

Married to Nick, over ten years of loving to explore together. I grew up in San Diego, Nick grew up here in Rochester, and last October we packed up our life in San Diego and drove east.

I was a little worried we'd be bored.

San Diego constantly reminds you that it's special. Rochester doesn't get that kind of press since most people have lived here their whole lives and nobody's told them how magical it is.

So I decided to be the one who did.

We didn't expect to find so many things to do, or that some of our best dates would happen here. Even in the dead of winter, we found cozy little worlds tucked inside buildings we would've driven right past. We haven't been bored once.

Every spot in this guide is somewhere we've actually been, wandered, and loved. My hope is that you'll take it and do the same. Grab your person, whoever that is for you, and go find a little bit of unexpected magic.